The measurement of the number, uniqueness, and valence of brand associations across three product categories

The research reported in this paper investigated the measurement of brand associations across three product categories. Brand associations had not been tested previously across all three categories of fast-moving consumer good, service, and durable in the one study. A free association method was used to generate brand associations for a fast-moving consumer good (shampoo), a service (banks) and a durable good (cars). The findings indicate that the first brand a respondent recalled has the greatest number of positive, unique and total brand associations. In addition, the findings indicated that durable goods have the highest number of associations, and the greatest number of unique and favourable brand associations. Further, banks and financial services had the fewest positive associations, which may have reflected attitudes to banks at the time of the research. These findings have implications for the manner in which respondents use information to recall brands, and how they process brand information when faced with a cue. Respondents use a depth and breadth of brand associations to generate brand information.

In hot pursuit : fluctuating mating system and sexual selection in sand lizards

A changing climate is expected to have profound effects on many aspects of ectotherm biology. We report on a decade-long study of free-ranging sand lizards (Lacerta agilis), exposed to an increasing mean mating season temperature and with known operational sex ratios. We assessed year-to-year variation in sexual selection on body size and postcopulatory sperm competition and cryptic female choice. Higher temperature was not linked to strength of sexual selection on body mass, but operational sex ratio (more males) did increase the strength of sexual selection on body size. Elevated temperature increased mating rate and number of sires per clutch with positive effects on offspring fitness. In years when the “quality” of a female's partners was more variable (in standard errors of a male sexual ornament), clutches showed less multiple paternity. This agrees with prior laboratory trials in which females exercised stronger cryptic female choice when male quality varied more. An increased number of sires contributing to within-clutch paternity decreased the risk of having malformed offspring. Ultimately, such variation may contribute to highly dynamic and shifting selection mosaics in the wild, with potential implications for the evolutionary ecology of mating systems and population responses to rapidly changing environmental conditions.

The relationship between sexual dimorphism in human faces and fluctuating asymmetry

Previous studies have found both support and lack of support for a positive relationship between masculinity and symmetry, two putative signs of mate quality, in male faces. We re-examined this relationship using an explicit measure of facial fluctuating asymmetry, as well as other measures of asymmetry, and measures of facial masculinity/femininity. We also used ratings of these traits for faces. Further, we examined the relationship between facial sexual dimorphism and body asymmetry. We found no significant correlations between facial masculinity and any of our measures of asymmetry or ratings of symmetry in males. Facial femininity was not consistently associated with facial symmetry in females, but was associated with body symmetry. Therefore, for females, but not males, facial femininity and body symmetry may reflect similar aspects of mate quality. We also examined the relationships between trait ratings and measurements. Our results provide validation of our ability to measure aspects of asymmetry that are perceived to be symmetrical, and aspects of sexual dimorphism that are perceived as feminine in females and masculine in males.

Fluctuating solutions for the evolution of domain walls

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

THERMAL RADIATION FROM A FLUCTUATING EVENT HORIZON

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fluctuating commutative geometry

We use the framework of noncommutative geometry to define a discrete model for fluctuating geometry. Instead of considering ordinary geometry and its metric fluctuations, we consider generalized geometries where topology and dimension can also fluctuate. The model describes the geometry of spaces with a countable number n of points. The spectral principle of Connes and Chamseddine is used to define dynamics. We show that this simple model has two phases. The expectation value , the average number of points in the universe, is finite in one phase and diverges in the other. Moreover, the dimension delta is a dynamical observable in our model, and plays the role of an order parameter. The computation of is discussed and an upper bound is found, < 2. We also address another discrete model defined on a fixed d = 1 dimension, where topology fluctuates. We comment on a possible spontaneous localization of topology.

X-ray powder data and bond valence of La0.65Sr0.35MnO3 after Rietveld refinement

Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data were collected for La0.65Sr0.35MnO3 prepared through an alternative method from a stoichiometric mixture of Mn2O3, La2O3, and SrO2, fired at 1300 degreesC for 16 h. XRD analysis using the Rietveld method was carried out and it was found that manganite has rhombohedral symmetry (space group R(3) over bar c). The lattice parameters are found to be a=5.5032 Angstrom and c=13.3674 Angstrom. The bond valence computation indicates that the initial inclusion of Sr occurs at higher temperature. (C) 2002 International Centre for Diffraction Data.

Fluctuating dimension in a discrete model for quantum gravity based on the spectral principle

The spectral principle of Connes and Chamseddine is used as a starting point to define a discrete model for Euclidean quantum gravity. Instead of summing over ordinary geometries, we consider the sum over generalized geometries where topology, metric, and dimension can fluctuate. The model describes the geometry of spaces with a countable number n of points, and is related to the Gaussian unitary ensemble of Hermitian matrices. We show that this simple model has two phases. The expectation value , the average number of points in the Universe, is finite in one phase and diverges in the other. We compute the critical point as well as the critical exponent of . Moreover, the space-time dimension delta is a dynamical observable in our model, and plays the role of an order parameter. The computation of is discussed and an upper bound is found, < 2.

Resonant x-ray diffraction as a tool to calculate mixed valence ratios: Application to Prussian Blue materials

An approach is proposed here to calculate mixed valence ratios in molecular compounds. Synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction experiments were conducted to determine the Fe(+3)/Fe(+2) ratio in Prussian Blue compounds, which were elected as an example of the use of this approach. As a result, a resonant x-ray diffraction measurement provided direct evidence that the vacant [Fe(CN)(6)] group was randomly absent from similar to 31% of the structure, which was indicated by structural differences caused by variations in the anomalous dispersion term. These findings are very important for a deeper understanding of the changes occurring in properties during in situ compositional variations. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

EPR linewidth of local magnetic moments diluted in Ce intermediate-valence compounds

Anomalous thermal behavior on the EPR linewidths has been observed for Gd impurities diluted in CexA1-xBn (A=La,Y, B=Ir,Os,Rh,Pd) intermediate-valence compounds. In this work we show that the exchange interaction between the local magnetic moments and the intermediate-valence host ions has an important contribution to the relaxation rates of the local moments. We calculated the relaxation, using the Redfield formalism and the ideas contained in the interconfigurational fluctuation model of Hirst. We show that the exchange interaction contribution has an exponential dependence on the excitation energy of the intermediate-valence ions. © 1992 The American Physical Society.

Lattice effects in the quasi-two-dimensional valence-bond-solid Mott insulator EtMe3P[Pd(dmit)(2)](2)

The organic charge-transfer salt EtMe3P[Pd(dmit)(2)](2) is a quasi-two-dimensional Mott insulator with localized spins S = 1/2 residing on a distorted triangular lattice. Here we report measurements of the uniaxial thermal expansion coefficients alpha(i) along the in-plane i = a and c axis as well as along the out-of-plane b axis for temperatures 1.4 K <= T <= 200 K. Particular attention is paid to the lattice effects around the phase transition at T-VBS = 25 K into a low-temperature valence-bond-solid phase and the paramagnetic regime above where effects of short-range antiferromagnetic correlations can be expected. The salient results of our study include (i) the observation of strongly anisotropic lattice distortions accompanying the formation of the valence-bond-solid phase, and (ii) a distinct anomaly in the thermal expansion coefficients in the paramagnetic regime around 40 K. Our results demonstrate that upon cooling through T-VBS the in-plane c axis, along which the valence bonds form, contracts while the second in-plane a axis elongates by the same relative amount. Surprisingly, the dominant effect is observed for the out-of-plane b axis which shrinks significantly upon cooling through T-VBS. The pronounced anomaly in alpha(i) around 40 K is attributed to short-range magnetic correlations. It is argued that the position of this maximum, relative to that in the magnetic susceptibility around 70 K, speaks in favor of a more anisotropic triangular-lattice scenario for this compound than previously thought.

Fluctuating Initial Conditions and Anisotropic Flows

In this work we study the connection between anisotropic flows and lumpy initial conditions for Au+Au collisions at 200 GeV. We present comparisons between anisotropic flow coefficients and eccentricities up to sixth order, and between initial condition reference angles and azimuthal particle distribution angles. We also present a toy model to justify the lack of connection between flow coefficients and eccentricities for individual events.